Can-opener.



E. W. BISHOP.

I CAN OPENER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 7,1908.

Patented Mar. 1909.

lmlllmmw'r ELMER W. BISHOP, OF SEDRO WOOLLEY, WASHINGTON.

CAN-OPENER.

Application filed November 7, 1908.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 2, 1909.

Serial No. 461,553.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELMER W. BISHOP, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sedro Woolley, in the county of Skagit and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can-Openers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawmgs.

This invention relates to improvements in can openers and its object is to provide a simple and ractical device of this character by means 0 which a tin can or the like may be quickl and easily opened.

Wit the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel features of construction and the combination and arran ement of arts hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a pers ective view of the improved can opener; ig. 2 is a side elevation of the same; and Fig. 3 is a plan view of the cutting blade or knife.

The invention comprises a suitable support 1 upon which is mounted a lever 2 carrying a cutting blade or knife 3. The support 1 is preferably in the form of an upright post rismg from a base board 4 and having the lever 2 pivoted to its upper end. Said lever has a suitable handle 5 at its outer end and its innor end 6 is reduced and adjustably pivoted in a vertical slot or opening 7 formed in the upper portion of the upright 1. This adj usta e pivotal connection is effected by forming in the slotted portion of the upright a series of transverse alining openings 8 adapted to receive a removable pivot pin 9 which also passes through an opening in the reduced end 6 of the lever. By making the pivotal connection of the lever vertically adjustable the device is adapted for operation upon cans of different sizes.

The improved cutting blade or knife 3 is fixed to the intermediate portion of the lever 2 and is adapted to be forced downwardly by the latter and into the top of a can 0 indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2. Said knife 3 is of substantially circular shape but open at its rear side, as shown at 10, and formed at its front side with a vertical notch or recess 11. The latter divides the knife into two substantially semi-circular sections 12 which have their bottom edges 13 sharpened and inclined rearwardly from their front to their rear ends, as shown more clearly in Fig.

2. At their front or lowermost ends are formed downwardly projecting pointed spurs 14 which are disposed on opposite sides of the notch or recess 11 and which are adapted to readily puncture the top of a can and to start the cutting edges 13 of the knife sections 12 when the lever 2 is forced downwardly. The provision of the spurs or points 14 enable the knife to effectively cut the top of the can when the lever is operated and the provision of the opening or recess 11 in the knife leaves a narrow connecting strip or neck in the can top between'the two slits or cuts made by the knife sections 12 so that the entire top of the can will not sag and be forced downwardly into the contents of the can, before the knife sections have finished their cutting stroke. This narrow strip or neck in the can top is severed by the front portion of the knife as the rear ends or heel portion complete the cutting of the can; and the cut portion of the top of the can can then be bent back upon that portion which is not severed by the knife sections 12, as will be readily understood. The knife may be connected to the lever 2 in any suitable manner but, as illustrated, it is fastened by bolts or rivets 15 to a lug 16 that projects from the lever. For the purpose of varying the size of the knife to adapt it for cutting different sized cans, an adjusting member 17, preferably in the form of a bolt is arranged 1n apertures formed in the ends of the knife sections 12. A wing nut 18 upon the threaded end of the bolt permits said sections 12 to be drawn together to reduce the size of the cutter and when said nut is screwed outwardly upon the bolt the resiliency of the knife sections will expand in the device, as will be readily understood. While this is the preferred manner in which the improved cutting knife or blade is constructed and mounted, it will be understood that it may be otherwise shaped and constructed within the scope of my invention.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

1. A can opener comprising a base, a support, a lever fulcrumed thereon, a knife carried by the lever and consisting of a body portion of open circular form having a cutting edge inclined upwardly from its closedfront end to its open rear end, said closed front end being formed with a recess to provide two substantially semi-circular sections, the front ends of the cutting edges of said sections being formed with the depending. pointed spurs 14, and an adjustable connection between the two semi-circular sections at the open rear end of the knife.

5 2. A can opener comprising a base, a support a lever fulcrumed thereon, a knife carried by the lever and of open circular form, the separated ends of the knife being formed with transverse openings and an adjusting 10 screw or bolt arranged in said openings at I the ends of the knife, whereby the diameter of the cutting. blade may be varied to fit cans of difierent sizes.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses. 15

ELMER W. BISHOP.

l/Vitnesses:

F. C. FELLows, FRED BENTLEY. 

